Patricia Thayer - Her Colorado Sheriff

Then he heard Shelby’s voice. “It’s okay, Ryan. I’m here, and no one will hurt you.”

Cullen glanced in the window and saw her seated on the bed, holding the child. He moved away, but listened, telling himself it was to make sure they were both okay.

“He hurt Mommy. He’s gonna get us,” the child cried. “I want my mommy.”

Shelby hugged Ryan as tight as she could, but even her secure hold didn’t stop the child’s trembling. She cursed Gil Bryant. He might never have put a hand on Ryan, but he had to watch as the bastard hit his mother.

“I know you do, sweetheart, but we talked about this. Your mother is in heaven. She’s safe with your dad.”

“I want to go, too.”

“Oh, Ryan.” She blinked back tears. “I would miss you so much.”

Suddenly a loud knock sounded on the front door. Ryan gasped.

“Shelby. It’s Cullen. Are you okay?”

She sighed in relief. “It’s Cullen.” She lifted the boy from the bed. “We better go answer the door.” She carried the child with her, knowing she couldn’t leave him alone in the bedroom.

She checked through the peephole to see the man dressed in uniform. “Oh, boy.” She opened the door to the sheriff. He removed his hat as he stepped inside.

“Is everything all right?”

With her nod, he turned his attention to Ryan. “I heard you scream, son. Did you have a bad dream?”

Shelby was surprised when Ryan nodded against her shoulder. “Sorry he disturbed you,” she said.

Cullen put on a smile. “He didn’t, I was headed into work. Since there’s no one around for miles, I wanted to make sure everyone here was all right.”

His empathy drew her. “Thank you, Sheriff.”

He nodded, then glanced back at the boy. “Hey, Ryan, did you know that part of my job is to check under beds and in closets? If you want, I can check yours.”

Ryan raised his head, looked at her, then nodded.

“Okay, I’ll go and make sure it’s all clear.” He winked at Shelby, then took off down the hall to the first bedroom. The light went on, then a few seconds later, she heard, “The closet is clear.” A few more seconds, “Under the bed is clear, too.”

Sheriff Brannigan walked out and toward them. “I checked everything, including shutting and locking the windows. It’s safe to go back to sleep.”

Shelby looked at Ryan. “I think it’s time you go back to bed, okay?”

The boy nodded and Shelby carried him down the hall and into the bedroom. She handed her nephew the iPad and let him look at a movie. She probably shouldn’t spoil him, but they both needed some sleep.

She kissed him on his head, then walked out but didn’t close the door. She came back into the living room and joined Cullen. “Thank you, Sheriff. What you did was very nice.”

He shook his head. “I’m glad I could help, and I thought you were going to call me Cullen.”

She glanced over him decked out in his uniform. “Dressed like that, it’s hard not to call you Sheriff.” Surprisingly, the uniform hadn’t scared Ryan.

“I’m still getting used to the title and the uniform.”

He studied her for a moment.

She was suddenly aware of her thin pajamas. She crossed her arms over her chest, but didn’t hide much. That was the least of her troubles. She had more important things to hide from this man.

“Does Ryan have a lot of nightmares?”

She shrugged. “It’s a new place. He has trouble with change. That’s an issue with kids on the...spectrum.” She wasn’t about to go into Ryan’s medical disorder at this time. “We’re dealing.”

“Since I’m your only neighbor, is there anything I should know about his...condition?”

“Since he’s usually with me, I don’t believe so. He’s just recently lost his mother, and he’s dealing with a lot for a little boy.”

“That’s got to be rough on him and on you.” He looked at her another moment, then checked his watch. “I need to get to work.” He took a card out of his pocket, along with a pen, then jotted something down. “Here is the number of the sheriff’s office, and also there’s my cell number.”

“I don’t need to call you. Ryan just had a bad dream.”

“Whatever you call it, I’m here and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you both safe.” He turned and walked out, leaving her wanting to run after him and take what he was offering her.

“Thank you, Cullen,” she whispered into the darkness. If only she could trust him enough to share her secrets. But the stakes were too high.

Chapter Four

The next morning the sun was shining bright when Cullen walked out of his office at the station. He greeted the day shift, deputies Tory Michaels, Brad Rogers and Sheila Brown.

“If you need me, call. For anything,” he told his second in command, Lieutenant Rogers, then he walked by the dispatcher, Connie Lara, at her workstation.

The midfifties woman truly ran the place, and he appreciated her efficiency. He was sure Ted Carson was resting easy knowing his sister was keeping an eye open.

“Have a good day, Sheriff,” she called.

“You, too, Connie. I’m going home to sleep.” He walked through the glass doors and got into his truck, but instead of heading to the ranch, he drove across Main Street and parked in front of the B&B Café.

“So shoot me, I’m hungry,” he murmured as he got out and went inside the cozy diner. He glanced around the place crowded with customers. It was after eight o’clock. He guessed these people didn’t have to work for a living. There was a lone vacant spot at the counter, and he grabbed it. Bill Cummings walked by with an empty mug, set it on the counter and filled it.

“Thanks, Bill. Are you running a special this morning?” he asked.

The café owner nodded. “You bet. It’s Shelby’s French toast, her eggs Benedict, and her biscuits and gravy.” He reached for a basket. “Here, try one of her apple spice muffins. You don’t even need butter.”

Cullen grabbed one. It was still warm. He took a bite, and his taste buds went crazy.

The sixty-something café owner leaned against the counter. “Bess and I haven’t even started tapping into her other talents.”

“Well, it looks like she’s caused a boom in your business.”

Bill grinned. “Yeah, and I might have to hire another waitress.”

“I’ll have the French toast and a side of bacon with scrambled eggs.”

“Got it, Sheriff.”

Over the next ten minutes he drank his one cup of coffee, then switched to orange juice so he could sleep when he got home. Finally his platter of food arrived just as Shelby walked out of the kitchen with little Ryan in tow.

She was dressed in a white cook’s smock and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, making her blue eyes look even bigger. Her face was clean of makeup with just a little lip gloss on her mouth. Even with his lack of sleep, he felt the jolt of awareness.

She walked around to his side of the counter. The café was clearing out. “Morning, Sheriff.”

“Morning to you, too. Hi, Ryan.”

The boy smiled.

“Join me?” He reached down and lifted Ryan to the vacant stool beside him. The child was carrying his prize picture book.

“Hi, Sheriff Cullen.”

That made Cullen grin. “So, no more monsters?”

The blond-haired boy shook his head. “All gone.”

“Good. I’ll chase them away any time you want. Okay?”

The boy nodded. “Okay.”

Shelby sat beside her nephew. “So how was your breakfast?”

“You know how it was. Delicious. Another secret recipe?”

She nodded. “My grandmother’s. She taught me more than any culinary school.”

He watched the sadness play over her pretty features. He wanted to reach out and comfort her.